Name: Classic Easy Panettone Cake Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 260 min
Ingredients: 4 tbsp warm milk; 1 tbsp dried yeast; 8 tbsp sugar; 2 sticks butter (room temperature); 5 large eggs (beaten); 2 tsp vanilla extract; grated zest of 1 lemon; grated zest of 1 orange; 2 1/4 cups flour (plus extra for dusting); pinch of salt; 7 tbsp raisins; 3 tbsp rum extract; 8 tbsp candied lemon and orange peel (finely chopped); butter for greasing; 1 tbsp egg white; 1 tbsp icing sugar; more icing sugar for dusting

Article may contain Amazon & affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

This traditional Italian Panettone Recipe was originally a Christmas sweet bread but make it once and you’ll want it on your table with every holiday!

Panettone Recipe

I love making easy and flavorful desserts, just like this delicious Panettone recipe! Originally a Christmas cake, with lots of texture and filled with raisins and candied orange, this simple cake is so tasty and full of flavors you’ll want to enjoy it all year round. I know I do and this is why I’m making this recipe again now.

Christmas desserts can be year-round if you’re ready to try out a new recipe. Whether you’re an expert baker or you’re a newbie, the Panettone recipe is a crowdpleaser—so much so that you may finish it before you serve it! If you’re looking for a satisfying, comforting, show-stopping, affordable dessert, give this Panettone a try.

Other cake recipes you will love:

What I love most about it is the texture. When it comes to cooking, playing with texture is half the fun—and the flavor is the other half. Packed with raisins and candied orange, this cake has both. There are plenty of ways to modify it, so don’t be afraid if you don’t care for raisins or candied orange. Before we dive into the recipe, let’s learn a little more about the history of the Panettone recipe and why it’s different from other holiday desserts.

What is a panettone cake?

The Panettone cake recipe is basically a sweet bread that is baked in a round pan, which gives it a lighter-than-air fluffy texture. There are also plenty variations of the classic recipe, some including a plain cake, chocolate or other candied fruits and usually served next to hot beverages or wine. Some even add a drop of mascarpone cheese to make it taste even more “Italian”.

Here’s the thing about this Italian Panettone: It looks like it would be hard to make, but in reality, it’s one of the easiest desserts you’ll ever prepare. As long as you follow the instructions and muster up a good dose of patience (it’s time-consuming!), you’ll be a master of the Panettone bread in no time.

When was the Panettone recipe created?

This recipe goes way back—back to the Renaissance period. We all take bread for granted now, but during this time (roughly 14th century), wheat was a hot commodity. There wasn’t much of it, so it was only used for special occasions… Christmas was one of those occasions. The tradition of making bread around the holidays began there, and Panettone entered the scene in 1839… as far as we know.

Actually, this cake seems to be much older, dating back to the Roman Empire. The romans used to add honey to sweeten a type of leavened cake, so this may have developed into the actual Panettone. Or maybe Pandoro? We’ll talk about Pandoro a bit later.

In 1839, the Italian-Milanese dictionary had an entry under “P” for Panettone, described as a kind of bread garnished with butter, eggs, sugar and raisins or sultanas. Why Panettone? The title comes from the Italian word “panetto,” which means a small loaf cake. Pair that word with “one,” which changes the meaning to “large cake.”

Other theory says that the name comes from the Milanese expression “pan del ton” (“cake of luxury”), as it uses many expensive ingredients like butter, sugar or raisins.

Panettone is found all over Latin America: Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Peru or Paraguay. Italian immigrants brought the recipe with them back in the 19th century and it quickly conquered the taste of everyone around.

Panettone cake variations:

Panettone is different from other sweet breads and cakes because of its history and its texture. The Panettone texture is key, so you’re going to want to pay close attention to the form that this mix takes on as you prepare it. If it begins to curdle at any point, that’s your cue to beat it and stir it more. We want to keep it as light and fluffy as possible!

As for variations, there are plenty of ways to elevate this classic recipe and put your own spin on it.

Of course, you can always opt for the traditional approach by serving it as a plain cake.
For chocolate lovers, add in a smattering of chocolate chips for extra flavor and melty goodness.
You can also make the bread more fruity by adding in a few other candied fruits. This sweet bread does best served next to hot beverages or wine.
Some people like to add a drop of mascarpone cheese to make it taste even more “Italian.”

After a few times of making this recipe, you’ll begin to figure out what you like best. That’s the beauty of a simple recipe—there’s a lot of room for you to get creative and make it your own.

What makes a good panettone?

Here’s a few tips to keep in mind while working on the best Panettone:

Pierce the cooling bread with two long metal or wooden skewers about 3-4 cm from the base, and hang upside down to cool completely. This will prevent the bread collapsing while cooling.
To keep it fresh for up to one week at room temperature, wrap it in plastic foil or place in a resealable bag.

Interesting facts and stories about the Panettone

Raisins have been used since medieval times. They are known to bring wealth and fortune, as they resemble the shape of golden coins.

One creation legend tells about the young helper of a cook prepared a quick sweet bread to serve at court for Christmas. The crowd was delighted and the bread was named “Pan de Toni” (Toni’s bread, after the helper).

Other legend says that a Milanese nobleman fell in love with the daughter of a poor baker named Toni. He disguised himself as a baker and created a rich and sweet bread with butter, raisins, eggs and candied peel. He encouraged the launch of this sweet bread under the name “Pan de Toni”.

What is the difference between Panettone and Pandoro?

You may have heard of Pandoro, especially when searching for Panettone recipes. They are both delicious Italian sweet breads, but made in a different manner:

Panettone is very time-consuming in order to make it so airy and fluffy. The dough would rise and collapse three times for many hours before baking. It is packed with raisins, candied orange, citron and lemon zest.
Pandoro (golden bread) comes from Verona and is a sweet bread enriched with butter, eggs and sugar, and dusted with confectioner’s sugar. These cakes were reserved for high-class nobility, as sugar was a very expensive commodity. It usually has an eight pointed-star shape.

Not sure which one to choose? Try both! After that, get back to us and tell us which one you loved more. Also, share with us any unusual Panettone ingredients or recipes, as well as useful tricks that helped you bake the most delicious Panettone.

Italian Panettone

Ingredients:

4 tbsp warm milk
0.50 oz = 14 g = 1 tbsp dried yeast
4 oz = 100g = 8 tbsp sugar
9 oz = 250g = 2 sticks butter, room temperature
5 large eggs, beaten
2 tsp vanilla extract
grated zest of 1 lemon
grated zest of 1 orange
18 oz = 500g = 2 1/4 cups flour, plus extra for dusting
pinch of salt
100g raisins
3 tbsp rum extract
4 oz = 100g = 8 tbsp candied lemon and orange peel, finely chopped
butter for greasing

For the topping

1 tbsp egg white
1 tbsp icing sugar
more icing sugar for dusting

You will also need:

Panettone cake pan or 20 cm = 8″ deep cake pan
large mixing bowl
silicone brush
large spoon
hand mixer
small saucepan

Directions:

Prepare the yeast

Grease a Panettone pan with softened butter
Place the warm milk in a bowl and add the yeast and 1 tsp of sugar, mix well and leave for a few minutes.
Put the remaining sugar in a large bowl and beat together with the butter and vanilla extract, using a hand mixer, until light and creamy.
Add lemon and orange zest and mix.
Add the eggs a little at a time until all are well incorporated.
If the mixture starts to curdle, add a tablespoon of the flour and beat this in with the eggs.

Make the dough

Place the flour in a large bowl and mix with a pinch of salt and make a well.
Add the yeast mixture then the butter and egg mixture, folding in with a large spoon to make a soft dough.
Knead for 5 mins in the bowl until the mixture starts to come together and is pretty sticky.
Put the dough onto a floured surface and knead for a further 10 mins, until everything has come together and you get a soft, stretchy dough. Add a light sprinkling of flour to the surface and your hands as you go to stop the mixture sticking.

Let the dough rise

Place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap; keep in a warm place for 2 hrs or until doubled in size.
Place the raisins in a small saucepan with the rum extract and heat on low for about 5 mins or until the fruit has absorbed the liquid; set aside to cool.
When the dough is risen, tip it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for another 5 mins. Gradually knead in the soaked raisins and chopped candied peel. Shape the dough into a ball and pop into the prepared Panettone pan. If using a 20cm cake pan, wrap a layer of baking parchment around the outside of the tin, to come up about 5cm above the rim, and secure the paper with string. This will help contain the dough as it rises.
Cover lightly with plastic wrap and leave to rise for another hour until it has risen to the top of the pan or paper.

Bake the cake

Preheat the oven to 350 F = 180 C.
Mix together the icing sugar and egg white and gently brush over the top of the Panettone.
Place the Panettone in the oven and bake for 40 – 50 mins or until golden and risen. Insert a skewer into the middle of the cake to test if done.
Leave to cool in the pan for 10 mins before turning out onto a cooling rack.
Leave to cool completely before dusting with icing sugar.
Cut into wedges to serve.

This Panettone recipe might be looking fancy and difficult to make but truth is, this is probably one of the easiest desserts you’ll ever make. It might be time consuming to make but in terms of difficulty, this simple Panettone recipe gets all the thumbs up.

A satisfying, comforting, show-stopping, affordable dessert, packed with lots of flavors and sweetness, this Panettone recipe will have all your guests asking for more!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe

5 from 34 votes